High school football: Roderick Robinson heads MaxPreps California All-State Football Team

St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and Mater Dei (Santa Ana) were the two dominant high school football teams in California, and the nation, this year and they dominate the MaxPreps California All-State Football Team.

The Braves, the MaxPreps National Champions, had five players named to the three teams while Mater Dei, the No. 3 team in the nation, had six players selected.

The Most Valuable Player, however, comes from a Lincoln (San Diego) team that knocked off De La Salle (Concord) for the Division 1-AA championship. Roderick Robinson rushed for 2,378 yards on the season and was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year in California.

State Coach of the Year honors go to a Carl Reed and Syd Thompson of Grant (Sacramento). The Pacer program had hit a rough patch in the final years of legendary coach Mike Alberghini, who won 10 games in his final four seasons combined before retiring after the 2020 season. Enter Reed and Thompson in 2021 with a 1-8 season in their first year at Grant co-head coaches, only to turn it completely around in year two with a 12-2 season and a victory over San Jacinto in the Class 3-AA state championship game.
MaxPreps California All-State Football Team

First team offense

QB — Malachi Nelson, Los Alamitos
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 180 | Year: Senior (2023)
Ranked during the season by 247Sports as the top recruit in the state of California, Nelson completed 192 of 286 passes for 2,898 yards and 35 touchdowns. He had 7,984 yards passing in his career with 105 touchdown passes. He has signed to play at Southern California.

QB — Elijah Brown, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185 | Year: Junior (2024)
Named to the all-area team by the Los Angeles Times, Brown completed 184 of 270 passes for 2,785 yards and 31 touchdowns as Mater Dei was ranked No. 1 for much of the season. Heading into his senior year, Brown has 6,339 yards passing with 76 touchdowns.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 230 | Year: Senior (2023)
The MaxPreps State Player of the Year led the Hornets to a CIF Bowl Game championship while rushing for 2,378 yards on 217 carries with 37 touchdowns. He is headed to play for Georgia.

RB — Dijon Stanley, Granada Hills Charter
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Los Angeles City Section Division I player of the year, Stanley rushed for 2,756 yards on 234 carries with 33 touchdowns. He is headed to play at Utah.

RB — Troy Leigber, Laguna Hills
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Offensive Player of the Year by the Orange County Register, Leigber was one of the leading scorers in the nation with 52 total touchdowns and 312 points. He rushed 321 times for 2,695 yards.

WR — Makai Lemon, Los Alamitos
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175 | Year: Senior (2023)
A MaxPreps All-American, Lemon caught 69 passes for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns. He will play at Southern California next year.

WR — Xavier Jordan, Cathedral (Los Angeles)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 160 | Year: Junior (2024)
Named to the all-area team by the Los Angeles Times, Jordan caught 83 passes for 1,626 yards and 20 touchdowns.

WR — Dillon Gresham, San Jacinto
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170 | Year: Junior (2024)
The junior led the nation in receiving yardage and touchdowns with 2,051 yards and 31 receiving touchdowns. He also caught 90 passes and was named to the Press-Enterprise all-area team.

TE — Cooper Flanagan, De La Salle (Concord)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the Bay Area News Group all-area team, Flanagan caught 26 passes for 490 yards and three touchdowns for the North Coast Section champion Spartans.

OL — B.J. Tolo, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 290 | Year: Senior (2023)
Selected to the all-county team by the Orange County Register, Tolo was the co-lineman of the year in the Trinity League.

OL — Sean Na'a, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 275 | Year: Senior (2023)
Made the Long Beach Telegram Dream Team, Na'a was the top blocker for the national champions.

OL — Alani Noa, Grant (Sacramento)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 350 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Sacramento Bee picked Noa on its All-Metro team. He is headed to play at Southern California next year.

OL — Raymond Pulido, Apple Valley
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 330 | Year: Senior (2023)
Headed to play at Arizona, Pulido is the top-ranked lineman in the state of California by 247Sports and is ranked No. 26 in the nation at his position.

OL — Amos Talalele, Santa Clara
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 295 | Year: Senior (2023)

K — Ryon Sayeri, Chaminade (West Hills)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 150 | Year: Junior (2024)
One of the top punters in the nation with an average of 50.8 yards on 32 punts, Sayeri also booted 68 kickoffs into the end zone. He finished with 12 field goals, including a long of 49 and was perfect on 53 extra point attempts. He never missed an extra point in his high school career, going 86-for-86.

First team defense

DL — David Peevy, Lincoln (San Diego)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 230 | Year: Senior (2023)
An all-CIF pick for the state champion Hornets, Peevy made 10 tackles for loss with five sacks. He will play at Southern California next year.

DL — Leviticus Su'a, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
DL — Cameron Brandt, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 254 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the Los Angeles Daily News all-area team, Brandt had 61 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He will play at Stanford next year.

DL —  Grant Buckey, Liberty (Bakersfield)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 275 | Year: Senior (2023)
A leader for the state champion Patriots, Buckey had 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss and eight sacks on the season. He will play at UCLA next year.

LB — Deven Bryant, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 214 | Year: Senior (2023)
The player of the year by the Long Beach Press Telegram, Bryant had 114 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for the national champions. He will head to Washington next year.

LB — Chase Martin, Thousand Oaks
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 210 | Year: Senior (2023)
The defensive player of the year by the Ventura Star, Martin had 131 tackles, 8. 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while also rushing for 1,019 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense. He will play at Boise State.

LB — Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 | Year: Sophomore (2025)
One of the top sophomores in the nation, Wyatt had 47 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for the Monarchs.

DB — Rodrick Pleasant, Serra (Gardena)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 184 | Year: Senior (2023)
Ranked No. 9 in the nation at cornberback by 247Sports Pleasant earned all-area honors from the Daily Breeze. He had four interceptions on the year with 30 tackles.

DB — Josiah Cox, Lincoln (San Diego)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180 | Year: Senior (2023)
The CIF San Diego Section defensive player of the year, Cox had 48 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions for the state-champion Hornets.

DB — Daylen Austin, Long Beach Poly
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180 | Year: Senior (2023)
Austin picked off three passes last year and had 14 passes defensed while making 36 tackles on the year. He will play at Oregon.

DB — Aaron Mikey Williams, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 179 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team, Williams had 45 tackles and two interceptions. He will play at Louisville.

AP — Blake Nichelson, Manteca
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205 | Year: Senior (2023)
On offense, Nichelson had 209 carries for 1,719 yards and 29 catches for 703 yard with 43 total touchdowns and 266 points. He had 44 tackles on defense with 4.5 sacks. He will play at Florida State.

P — Aidan Flintoft, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180 | Year: Senior (2023)
Ranked as one of the top punters in the nation by Chris Sailor, Flintoft averaged 39 yards per punt and also booted six field goals and had 47 touchbacks on kickoffs.

Second team offense

QB — Jaden Rashada, Pittsburg
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 190 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the All-Metro team by the San Francisco Chronicle, Rashada completed 211 of 338 passes for 3,055 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was ranked as the No. 7 quarterback in the nation by 247 Sports.

QB — Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley (Danville)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180 | Year: Junior (2024)
The Bay Area News Group picked Baker as its player of the year after he completed 270 of 420 passes for 3,733 yards and 46 touchdowns.

RB — Jaivian Thomas, McClymonds (Oakland)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170 | Year: Senior (2023)
Cal-Berkeley nabbed Thomas, who led McClymonds to a state bowl game this year while rushing for 2,456 yards on 169 carries with 29 touchdowns.

RB — Delon Thompson, St. Bonaventure (Ventura)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 196 | Year: Senior (2023)
The offensive player of the year in Ventura County, Thompson rushed for 2,388 yards on 261 carries with 25 touchdowns.

RB — Damian Henderson, Los Alamitos
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185 | Year: Senior (2023)
A member of the Orange County Register all-county team and the Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team, Henderson rushed for 1,744 yards on 190 carries with 23 touchdowns.

WR — DeAndre Moore, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 192 | Year: Senior (2023)
Ranked as the No. 8 player in the state, Moore is headed to play at Texas next year. He caught 22 passes for 483 yards and eight touchdowns for the MaxPreps mythical national champions.

WR — Tiger Bachmeier, Murrieta Valley (Murrieta)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190 | Year: Senior (2023)
Bachmeier caught 97 passes for 1,525 yards and 15 touchdowns while earning all-area honors by the Press-Enterprise. He has 238 career receptions for 3,958 yards and 40 touchdowns. He will play at Stanford.

WR — Scott Nixon, Sheldon (Sacramento)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior (2023)
The player of the year by the Sacramento Bee, Nixon caught 84 passes for 1,280 yards and 17 touchdowns and also carried the ball 131 times for 858 yards and 10 scores.

TE — Mason Norberg, Folsom
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
Stepped in for an injured Walker Lyons and caught 44 passes for 515 yards and eight touchdowns to earn a spot on the MaxPreps All-Sac Joaquin Section team.

OL — Elishah Jackett, El Modena (Orange)
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 250 | Year: Senior (2023)
Washington landed Jackett, who earned all-county honors by the Orange County Register.

OL — Brandon Baker, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 290 | Year: Junior (2024)
Baker made first team all-county by the Orange County Register and is ranked as one of the top linemen in the nation for the Class of 2024.

OL — Simione Pale, Elk Grove
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320 | Year: Senior (2023)
Pale earned All-Metro honors by the Sacramento Bee and will play at Stanford next year. He is ranked as the 45th best offensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports.

OL — Roger Alderman, Sonora
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 270 | Year: Senior (2023)
The University of Utah will be the new home for Alderman, who was the Mother Lode League most valuable player. He is ranked as the 42nd best tackle in the nation by 247Sports.

OL — DeAndre Carter, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 340 | Year: Junior (2024)

K — Robert Petrich, Granite Hills (El Cajon)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 145 | Year: Junior (2024)
Among the state leaders with 13 field goals and 74 extra points for a total of 113 kicking points. Petrich earned All-CIF honors in the San Diego Section.

Second team defense

DL — Jaeden Moore, Central Valley Christian (Visalia)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 230 | Year: Senior (2023)
Moore racked up 68 tackles and 17 tackles for loss to go with nine sacks while earning league MVP honors. He also caught 24 passes for 465 yards and 11 scores. He is headed to Oregon.

DL — Deijon Laffitte, Colony (Ontario)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 260 | Year: Senior (2023)
Laffitte will play at Southern California next year after making 51 tackles with 23 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

DL — Jaggar Tavai, Serra (Gardena)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 285 | Year: Senior (2023)
A force on both sides of the line, Tavai had 41 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks on defense. He was also named to the Daily Breeze all-area team as an offensive lineman.

DL — Conner Dasmann, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Sacramento Bee's defensive player of the year, Dasmann made 75 tackles and had 10.5 sacks.

LB — Jerry Mixon Jr., Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
Mixon is headed to Oregon next season after earning All-Bay Area honors this year by the Bay Area News Group. He had 79 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks.

LB — Will Clemens, Marin Catholic (Kentfield)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
The defensive player of the year in Marin County, Clemens had 82 tackles, five sacks and an interception.

LB — Shay O'Kelly, Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
O'Kelly had 135 tackles and 18 tackles for loss, giving him 330 tackles for his career. He earned All-Metro honors by the San Francisco Chronicle.

DB — Marquis Gallegos, Chaminade (West Hills)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180 | Year: Senior (2023)
Gallegos made the Los Angeles Daily News all-area team after making 96 tackles and grabbing seven interceptions. He also had 11 passes defense.

DB — Joseph Bey, Serra (San Mateo)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185 | Year: Junior (2024)
The Bay Area News Group tabbed Bey on its All-Bay Area Team. He led Serra to a Central Coast Section championship, finishing with 46 tackles on the season.

DB — Christian Pierce, Rancho Cucamonga
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180 | Year: Senior (2023)
The defensive player of the year by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pierce had 65 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions. He will play at Southern California.

DB — Journey McKoy, De La Salle (Concord)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 163 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the All-Metro team by the San Francisco Chronicle, McKoy had five interceptions and had 25 tackles. He is headed to play at the University of Nevada.

AP — Kresean Kizzy, Liberty (Bakersfield)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 158 | Year: Senior (2023)
On offense, Kizzy caught 46 passes for 1,038 yards and 12 touchdowns for the state champions. He also had 24 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He also had four touchdowns on punt returns, one on a kickoff return and two on interception returns.

P — Dieter Kelly, Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 195 | Year: Senior (2023)
Kelly earned all-county honors by the Orange County Register. He averaged 38 yards per punt and also had 28 touchbacks on kickoffs. He added eight field goals and was 32-for-32 on extra points.

Third team offense

QB — Joseph McCray, Grant (Sacramento)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185 | Year: Senior (2023)
McCray led Grant to its second state championship by completing 182 of 300 passes for 4,009 yards and 51 touchdowns. The Sacramento Bee named McCray its offensive player of the year.

QB — Austin Mack, Folsom
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 215 | Year: Junior (2024)
Mack continued Folsom's string of outstanding quarterbacks by throwing for 3,498 yards and 40 touchdowns while completing 269 of 382 passes. He made the Sacramento Bee's All-Metro Team.

RB — Dane Dunn, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 160 | Year: Sophomore (2025)
The Los Angeles Daily News made Dunn its first sophomore player of the year since Russell White in the 1980s. Dunn ran 267 times for 1,925 yards and 24 touchdowns.

RB — Brandon Ramirez, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195 | Year: Senior (2023)
The County Metro Conference's player of the year, Ramirez ran 201 times for 1,967 yards and 31 touchdowns. He will play at Fresno State next year.

RB — Ryker Peters, Escalon
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 210 | Year: Senior (2023)
Peters led the Cougars to a state championship, rushing 270 times for 2,208 yards and 31 touchdowns. Named to the MaxPreps All-Sac Joaquin Section team.

WR — Jackson Harris, Berkeley
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195 | Year: Senior (2023)
The All-Metro selection by the San Francisco Chronicle had 73 catches for 1,492 yards and 24 touchdowns. He will play at Stanford.

WR — Robbie Mascheroni, Campolindo (Moraga)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior (2023)
Made the All-Bay Area Team by the Bay Area News Group with 66 catches for 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns.

WR — Rashid Williams, Pittsburg
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190 | Year: Senior (2023)
Washington nabbed Williams who earned All-Metro honors from the San Francisco Chronicle after catching 76 passes for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns.

TE — Zachary Marshall, Carlsbad
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the San Diego All-CIF Team, Marshall caught 23 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns. He's headed to Michigan.

OL — Jonah Rodriguez, Madison (San Diego)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 260 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the CIF San Diego all-section team, Rodriguez will be staying close to home with his commitment to San Diego State.

OL — Luke Baklenko, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 300 | Year: Senior (2023)
Baklenko made the Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team. He'll be playing at Stanford next year.

OL — Eugene Brooks, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 375 | Year: Junior (2024)
Earned all-area honors by the Los Angeles Daily News, Brooks is ranked as the No. 27 offensive lineman in the nation for the Class of 2024.

OL — Manasse Itete, Modesto Christian (Modesto)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 270 | Year: Junior (2024)
Ranked as the No. 17 tackle in the nation for the Class of 2024, Itete is racking up college offers heading into his senior season.

OL — Cooper Powers, De La Salle (Concord)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 280 | Year: Senior (2023)
TCU landed Powers, who anchored the offensive line for the North Coast Section champions while earning All-Bay Area honors.
K — Carson Nichols, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 170 | Year: Senior (2023)
Nichols booted 12 field goals on the year including one from 48 yards out. He also connected on 62 of 66 extra points and was named to the Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.

Third team defense

DL — Jae'von Reels, Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 280 | Year: Senior (2023)
The defensive lineman of the year in the West Catholic Athletic League, Reels had 63 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.

DL — Gabriel Batres, Rodriguez (Fairfield)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210 | Year: Senior (2023)
The lineman of the year in the Monticello Empire League, Batres was one of the state leaders in sacks with 19 while posting 80 tackles and 42 tackles for loss.

DL — Dylan Labarbera, Foothill (Palo Cedro)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 240 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Northern Section defensive MVP posted 111 tackles and 34 tackles for loss to go with nine sacks.

LB — Larry Tre Edwards, Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215 | Year: Senior (2023)
Named to the All-CIF San Diego Section team, Edwards led the Crusaders to a CIF state bowl game championship while racking up 77 tackles with 12 tackles for loss.

LB — Venilaite Wolfgramm, Inglewood
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Daily Breeze defensive player of the year posted 120 tackles on the season for a team that finished 13-1 and was runner-up in the Southern Section Division 2.

LB — Tytus Khajavi, Clovis West (Fresno)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215 | Year: Junior (2024)
The Tri-River Athletic Conference defensive player of the year posted 59 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss along with 7.5 sacks.

LB — Jabari Mann, Serra (San Mateo)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200 | Year: Junior (2024)
A defensive leader for the Central Coast Section champions, Mann had 87 tackles and 10 tackles for loss along with five sacks while earning All-Metro honors from the San Francisco Chronicle.

DB — Ben Drewry, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 150 | Year: Sophomore (2025)
Among the state leaders in interceptions with 11, Drewry also had 58 tackles and was named to the Daily Breeze all-area team.

DB — Trevor Monteleone, Cypress
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205 | Year: Senior (2023)
The defensive MVP of his league, Monteleone posted 134 tackles and had three interceptions. He also caught 42 passes for 5098 yards and four touchdowns. A member of the Orange County Register's all-county team.

DB — Omari Gayles, St. Mary's (Stockton)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 165 | Year: Junior (2024)
A leader on defense for the 10-1 Rams, Gayles had 96 tackles and three interceptions while earning a spot on the MaxPreps All-Sac Joaquin Section team.

DB — Baron Taylor, Inderkum (Sacramento)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 160 | Year: Junior (2024)
Taylor made the MaxPreps All-Sac Joaquin Section team after grabbing seven interceptions and defending 11 passes. he also had 48 tackles and three tackles for loss.

AP — Danny Scudero, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 150 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Bay Area News Group listed Scudero as the top player in San Jose after doing a little bit of everything for the Monarchs. He caught 60 passes for 982 yards and 13 touchdowns and he rushed 50 times for 309 yards and three scores. He also had 4.5 sacks on defense with one interception.

P — Ethan Downie, Woodcreek (Roseville)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 17 | Year: Senior (2023)
The Sacramento Bee picked Downie on its all-metro team after he average 40.1 yards per kick.